Should I take xanax to be able to sleep?

Question

My Dr. prescribed xanax for panic attacks some time ago...I don't have them now but he said if I could not sleep to take one at night but I take one half (scared of addiction) and I have bad dreams every time.....they are 0.5mg.....I also take the supplement Sam-e in the morning. I almost would rather have no sleep than to have the nightmares.

Answer 1

Don't take that stuff! You should take Melatonin at night before bed. This will help you greatly. You can get it at GNC, or any vitamain shop. Also a cup of Chamomile tea before bed will help you relax. Another way to stop bad dreams is to read a kids book before bed. Most of the time we dream about things that are on our mind.

Answer 2

Occasionally would not hurt if you are just desperate for sleep. Xanax is addictive like you said. After a while you might not be able to sleep without one or two, then you'll need something to lift you up from the Xanax, then you'll get depressed and need strong nerve pills. It could be a chain of addictive meds. I'm not saying that will definitely happen, but it can. I to have anxiety attacks occasionally, if I can't reason myself out of the attack, I will take a pill. I take something called Lorzepam, it is for anxiety attacks. I take one sometimes before bed. This is not suppose to be addictive, I don't have to take it but I am on a swing shift and have a hard time keeping my sleep habits straight. It does help. Maybe you should ask Doc. if there is another type besides Xanax that would not be habit forming.

Answer 3

Keep the xanax because it's great for anxiety and panic attacks. And it is addictive well I'm addicted anyway, I would suggest asking for Temazepam it is in the same drug group as Valium and xanax which are all benzodiazipines, but it is more of a tranquillizer. Break a temazy in half , take just before bed and see if that helps. If you still get the bad dreams you could try an over the counter sleeping pill, i think the active ingredient in them is doxcylamine succinate, they help but as soon as you feel tired off em go to bed cause they don't last as long as the temazepam. I hate having bad dreams sometimes they affect you all the following day can't get the thoughts out of ya head can ya. good luck.

Answer 4

I have taken Xanax to sleep on occasion and it does not cause me any problems, but everyone is different. If you are having trouble sleeping and Xanax is not helping, you should see your doctor to discuss your other options (there are many)

Lochmessy- I feel you are very wrong about this. Drugs that affect your mind can cause all kinds of side effects. I was recently put on a different antidepressant and the nightmares were so terrifying I had to stop taking it. Everyone reacts differently so it is very possible this drug reacts poorly with this person.

Answer 5

After major operations it is very important that the patients rest and sleep well. Xanax is basically an ant antianxiety medicine. You are less anxious and relaxed so sleep well. There is no harm to take it for a few weeks only. People can get addicted and then have bad withdrawal if thy use it for a long time.

Answer 6

I'm also on xanax for panic attacks. I've used it a few times when I couldn't sleep because I know it is also prescribed for insomnia. But I also get terrible nightmares when I take xanax before goign to bed and I have no idea why. Good luck :(!

Answer 7

Vergie .. I too take xanax for panic attack and anxiety.. actually ive been seeing my internal medicine doc for 3 years now and gained alot of knowledge on this.
its ok to take xanax to help relax you xanax helps calm down any anxiousness that we have, however i would not take it with any other herbal supplement that is intended for the same purpose as xanax or any other medicine that can make you drowsy. and of course do not drink grapefruit juice because it holds the xanax in your system longer and doesnt break down like it should.

Answer 8

You can try taking a Benadryl tablet (take only 25 mgm.) at bedtime on occasion to help you sleep. Be sure to take it early enough so you don't have a 'hang-over' in the morning.

It's not a good idea to take a sleep aid every single night. Be sure you aren't drinking caffeine during the day, and I mean NO caffeine. People who are prone to anxiety attacks may also be extremely sensitive to caffeine.
My kids and I use a 'sound machine' and it helps us sleep through the night tremendously. The one at Hammacher Schlemmer works great...just white noise, not nature sounds.

If you absolutely need something for sleep, ask your doctor.

Answer 9

Hello, just wanted to let you know of a miracle pill that puts you to sleep, available over the counter, is actually very very beneficial for your health, and is only 3 bucks!! I had trouble falling asleep for years. I would lay in bed, and think and think and think for hours before I could fall asleep. It was literally driving me crazy!! I had tried every over the counter sleeping pill on the market and nothing helped. I turned to Nyquil and that did the trick. I had been drinking Nyquil almost every night to go to sleep until I stumbled upon this miracle sanity saving nutritional supplement named MELATONIN. And you can buy it at any GNC health food store. I advocate GNC because the melatonin they use goes through 85 different quality checks before its bottled. Buy the sublingual melatonin. The kind that dissolves underneath your tongue tastes like cherries and it’s good for you!! I was shocked at the effectiveness in putting me to sleep. If you have any questions before you buy it the sales associate at GNC should be able to answer any questions you have. It comes in 1 mg, I take 2 right before bed. The only side effects are weird dreams for the first two nights if any at all. You must take the sublingual kind from GNC otherwise it might not work because of quality and potency, should be taken at regular bedtimes in the evening.
God Bless
P.S. after you try it and it works don’t forget to tell others about it. You could be saving someone else’s Sanity

Answer 10

Xanax can be a very serious drug and has many side effects.One being if you have used it for a while,then you need to wean yourself off it slowly.Convulsions and even death has happened, with the use of this drug.Talk to him.